Irrigating apparatus

ABSTRACT

In an irrigating apparatus comprising a water conduit supported above crop height on self-propelled, movable support towers, wherein at least one, preferably all, of the towers has motor and transmission means (e.g., a worm gear and chain and sprockets) to drive its movable base (e.g., a drive wheel), the present invention provides rigid enclosure means for the transmission means to hold a reservoir of lubricant in contact with the transmission means and to prevent leaves, sand, dirt, foliage from the crop, etc., from coming into contact with and fouling the transmission means.

United States Patent Allen, Jr. 1 Oct. 2, 1973 1 1 lRRlGATlNG APPARATUS1,960,693 5/1034 Bryant 1114/15 R w 1,971,311 8/1934 Chapman 1 1Inventor! Russell -J Amarillo 3,463,267 8/1969 Dooley ct al 184 15 R x[731 Assignee: Hydro Corporation, Amari11o,Tex.

Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. [22] Flled' 1972 AssistantExaminer-Michael Mar [2]] Appl. No.2 219,539 Attorney-Ely SilvermanRelated US. Application Data 163] Continuation of Ser. No. 879,698, Nov.25, 1969, [57] .ABSTRACT abandoned. In an irrigating apparatuscomprising a water conduit supported above crop height onself-propelled, mov- [52] US. Cl. 239/212, 184/15 R able support towers,wherein at least one, preferably [51] Int. Cl B05b 3/12 all, of thetowers has motor and transmission means 158] Field of Search 239/177,212; (c.g., a worm gear and chain and sprockets) to drive its 137/344;184/13 R, 15 R movable base (c.g., a drive wheel), the present invention provides rigid enclosure means for the transmis- [56] ReferencesCited sion means to hold a reservoir of lubricant in contact N T STATESPATENTS with the transmission means and to prevent leaves, 3 353 75]11/1967 Dowd 239,212 X sand, dirt, foliage from the crop, etc., fromcoming into 3'425'629 2/l969 239/22 X contact with and fouling thetransmission means. 2,230,575 2/1941 Myers 184/13 R 30 Claims, 4 DrawingFigures 20\ w I? I9 24 5 PATENTED DU 2 I975 FIG. I

FIGZ.

INVENTOR RUSSEL G. ALLEN, Jr.

BY 0 W10 +W m2z4 ATTORNEYS IRRIGATING APPARATUS This is a continuation,of application Ser. No. 879,698 filed Nov. 25, 1969 now abandoned.

This invention relates to an improvement in the type of self-propelledirrigating apparatus which comprises a linear water transporting conduitwhich has a plurality of water sprinkling means and which is moved overthe ground during operation. More particularly, it relates to such anapparatus which comprises support members for the conduit, which supportmembers are driven by a motor that is connected, via transmission means,to a movable base.

Self-propelled irrigating apparatus which comprise a linear watertransporting conduit supported above the ground by a plurality ofmovable support members have been used extensively for watering largeareas of ground from overhead. Various designs for the apparatus aredisclosed in the prior art. Essentially, each one is comprised of thelinear conduit: a plurality of water sprinkling means at spacedintervals along the conduit for sprinkling water onto the ground; aplurality of movable support members, also disposed at spaced intervalsalong the conduit, for supporting the conduit above the ground,preferably above crop height and drive means associated with at leastone of the support members for moving the conduit over the ground in agenerally perpendicular direction to the line of the conduit. The drivemeans has usually been composed of some form of a movable base, a motorhaving an output, and transmission means operatively connecting motoroutput to the movable base. Examples of movable bases which can beemployed include drive wheels, endless tracks, walking feet, etc. Motorswhich can be used include electrically powered motors, hydraulic motorsof either the oil or water type, air motors, rotary fluid or air exhaustmotors, and air and water turbine motors. t

A problem which has persisted, however, in these irrigation apparatus isthat the drive systems have experienced rapid and severe wear and,consequently, early and frequent breakdowns. By the present inventionthere is provided an improved apparatus of this type as far asresistance to wear and failure of the drive means is concerned. Thisimprovement is accomplished by means of the apparatus rigid enclosurefor each of the transmission of means contructed of oil-resistant andweather-resistant material. The enclosure means is attached to thesupport member and substantially completely envelops the transmissionmeans. It is, however, spaced a sufficient distance away from thetransmission means to provide a space within the enclosure for holding areservoir of lubricant, e.g., grease or oil, in contact with thetransmission means. The enclosure means itself does a great deal towardpreventing water, sand, dirt, foilage from the crop, straw, sticks andso forth from coming into contact with the transmission means. But whenthe space between the enclosure and the transmission means is filledwith a lubricant, e.g., grease or oil, then the transmission means isenveloped in an almost impenetrable medium, so far as the abovemcntionedelements are concerned. The result is a greatly extended useful life forthe apparatus with significantly fewer breakdowns or stoppages than withprior art apparatus.

The improvement of the present invention is particularly suitable foruse in connection with those irrigators having means for pivotallyconnecting one end of the linear water transporting conduit to astationary water supply line. These apparatus revolve around the mouthof the stationary water line when in operation, and, depending upon thelength of the conduit, etc., will often complete a full circle in, say,12 to 240 hours. In these revolving irrigators it is often preferredthat each of the support members have the aforementioned drive means andthat the apparatus include alignment means for automatically maintainingthe linear conduit in a substantially straight line during operation ofthe drive means.

Numerous different alignment means are disclosed in the prior art andany suitable one of these can be used with the apparatus of the presentinvention. The alignment of a revolving irrigator of this type isusually maintained by each of the motors being separately controllable,so that any one or more can be shut off without shutting off the rest.Sensing means are then employed to detect when one of the supportmembers has moved a certain distance out in front of the other members,at which time a signal will be transmitted to the on-off switch for themotor on the advanced member, which signal will turn the motor off untilthe lagging support members catch up, thus re-establishing the linearalignment and preventing rupture of the conduit.

Any suitable transmission means which will convey the motive force tothe movable base so as to provide for movement of the support member canbe. employed. Gears which can be used in the transmission means can beof the worm, helical, herringbone, spur, bevel, miter, spiral miter, orspiral bevel type, and can be used in any suitable combinations. A wormgear can advantageously be included in the transmission means since itwill prevent the support member from coasting down inclines and thusgetting out of alignment. Drive shafts, roller chains and sprockets canalso be used in the transmission means. Almost invariably it will benecessary, in order to move the apparatus satisfactorily, that thetransmission means be so constructed as to provide for a reduction inthe speed of the motor and an increase in the torque.

Preferably, the apparatus of this invention will be towable in thedirection of the line of the conduit so as to facilitate its transportfrom one place of use to another. Accordingly, it is preferred that themovable bases of the support members be capable of being pivoted to getinto towing position. It is also desirable that there be means todisengage the movable base from the motor output or the transmissionmeans or both during towing, i.e., to make the base freewheeling. Wherea type of transmission means is employed which will permit the base tobe moved only by the motor output, such as, for example, a transmissionmeans including a worm gear, then it is imperative, if towing is to bepossible, that the movable base be disengagable from the transmissionmeans.

The material of which the enclosure for the transmission means isconstructed is, as stated above, a rigid, solid material which will notbe attacked by lubricating oil and which will not readily deteriorateupon exposure to the weather. Various metals and plastics satisfy theserequirements. Aluminum, for example, is ideal for this purpose. Theenclosure means can be in any desired shape so long as it does notinterfere with the operatiorr of the drive means. Advantageously, itwill be provided with drain means near its bottom for ease in removingthe lubricant and with a capped opening near its top to facilitatefilling it with the lubricant. The enclosure means can constitute asingle housing or a plurality of housings. Thus, for example,substantially the entire transmission means can be enclosed in a singlehousing or it can be treated in a segmented fashion with a plurality ofnon-interconnected housings. The latter means is especially useful whereit is preferable to treat different portions of the transmission meanswith different types of lubricants, for example, with grease in oneportion and with oil in another.

The invention may be better understood by considering the accompanyingdrawings, which are illustrative only and not to be considered aslimiting the invention.

Referring now to the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a front view of a section, encompassing three identicalsupport members, of an irrigator embodying the improvement of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view, taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, of one of thesupport members of the irrigator.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear sectional view, taken along line 33 of FIG.2, illustrating the drive means associated with each of the wheels ofthe support members.

Finally, FIG. 4 is a top sectional view, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3,of the lower sprocket assembly of the transmission means.

Considering the apparatus of the drawings in more detail, water conduitis supported at spaced intervals along its length by a series of supportmembers, designated generally as 11. Spray nozzles 33 are located atspaced intervals along conduit 10. Each support member 11 is identicaland is made up of a frame assembly, comprised of two struts 12, uppercrossbar 13, lower crossbar 14 and legs 22; electric motor 15; two setsof transmission means (designated generally as 16) and two drive wheels17. The base 21 of electric motor 15 is mounted on lower crossbar l4,and the motor output is connected to dual drive shafts 18. Drive shaft18 is connected to the input of gear box 19 which contains a worm gear(not shown) and an output in the form of drive sprocket shaft 20.

The gear box 19 is attached to leg 22, and drive sprocket shaft 20protrudes through leg 22 and through backing plate 23 and terminates indrive sprocket 24. Backing plate 23 is attached to leg 22. Welded to leg22 near the bottom thereof is tube 25, through which is mounted driveaxle 26. Recessed within tube 25 at both ends thereof are bearings 27.Drive axle 26 terminates at one end in drive flange 28, and at the otherend, after extending through backing plate 23, in driven sprocket 29.Drive flange 28 is bolted to drive wheel 17. Mounted on and aroundsprockets 24 and 29 is endless roller chain 30. Bolted to backing plate23, through oil resistant rubber gasket 32, is housing 31.

Each of the support members 11 operates in the same manner. Electricmotor l5, which is connected to a suitable power source (not shown),drives dual axles l8 and each of the latter is connected to the input ofgear box 19. The output of gear box 19 drives sprocket 24, which drivesroller chain 30, which drives sprocket 29. The rotation of sprocket 29is transmitted via axle 26 and drive flange 28 to wheel 17. Rotation ofthe latter moves the frame assembly and conduit 10 which is supportedthereon. Water is distributed from conduit 10 to the ground by spraynozzles 33. Alignment means for the apparatus, which are not shown, areconventional in the art and can be of any suitable design. Also, it willusually be preferred to supplement the support of conduit 10 by addingvertical extensions or towers to the frame assemblies of the supportmembers and running suspension cables from these towers to the conduit,which is also not shown in the drawings but which is also well known inthe art.

In the apparatus shown in the drawings, segmented enclosure means areemployed, in that the transmission means for each drive wheel issubstantially completely enveloped by virtue of gear box 19 on the onehand and by backing plate 23, gasket 32 and housing 31 on the other. Thevoid space within gear box 19 can be filled with either a lubricatinggrease or oil, while the void space between housing 31 and backing plate23 is preferably filled with a lubricating oil.

It is claimed:

1. In a self-propelled irrigating apparatus for watering an area ofground, said apparatus comprising a linear water transporting conduitsupported above the ground by a plurality of movable support membersdisposed at spaced intervals along said conduit, said conduit havingconnected thereto a plurality of water sprinkling means at spacedintervals along the conduit for sprinkling water onto the ground, and atleast one of said support members having drive means operativelyattached thereto for moving said conduit over the ground in a generallyperpendicular direction to the line of the conduit, said drive meanscomprising a movable base, a motor having an output, and transmissionmeans operatively connecting the motor output to the movable base, theimprovement comprising, for each of said transmission means, rigidenclosure means pivotally attached to said support member andconstructed of oilresistant and weather-resistant material, saidenclosure means substantially completely enveloping said transmissionmeans but being spaced apart therefrom a sufficient distance to providea space within the enclosure for holding a reservoir of lubricant incontact with said transmission means.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the apparatus has means forpivotally connecting one end of said linear conduit to a stationarywater supply line.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein each of said support members hassaid drive means.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said motor is electricallypowered.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein said apparatus has alignment meansfor automatically maintaining said linear conduit in a substantiallystraight line during operation of said drive means.

6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein said transmission means comprisesa worm gear and said movable base is a drive wheel.

7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said worm gear is connected indriving relationship to a sprocket, which is in turn connected indriving relationship to an endless roller chain, which is in turnconnected in driving relationship to a second sproket, which is in turnconnected in driving relationship to said drive wheel.

8. The improvement of claim 7 wherein each of the support members hastwo drive wheels.

9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein each of the support members has asingle motor to drive both drive wheels.

10. The improvement of claim 9 wherein the enclosure means isconstructed of aluminum.

1 II. In a self-propelled irrigating apparatus for watering an area ofground, said apparatus comprising a linear water transporting conduitsupported above the ground by a plurality of movable support members disposed at spaced intervals along said conduit, said conduit havingconnected thereto a plurality of water sprinkling means at spacedintervals along the conduit for sprinkling water onto the ground, and atleast one of said support members having drive means operativelyattached thereto for moving said conduit over the ground in a generallyperpendicular direction to the line of the conduit, said drive meanscomprising a movable base, a motor having an output, and transmissionmeans operatively connecting the motor output to the movable base, theimprovement comprising, for each of said transmission means, rigidenclosure means pivotally attached to said support member andconstructed of oil-resistant and weather-resistant material, saidenclosure means substantially completely enveloping said transmissionmeans but being spaced apart therefrom a sufficient distance to providea space within the enclosure for holding a reservoir of lubricant incontact with said transmission means and said space is filled with alubricant chosen from group consisting of grease and oil.

12. The improvement of claim 11 wherein one end of said linear watertransporting conduit is pivotally connected to a stationary water supplyline.

13. The improvement of claim 12 wherein each of said support members hassaid drive means.

14. The improvement of claim 13 wherein said motor is electricallypowered.

15. The improvement of claim 14 wherein said apparatus has alignmentmeans for automatically maintaining said linear conduit in asubstantially straight line during operation of said drive means.

16. The improvement of claim 15 wherein said transmission meanscomprises a worm gear and said movable base is a drive wheel.

17. The improvement of claim 16 wherein said worm gear is connected indriving relationship to a sprocket, which is in turn connected indriving relationship to an endless roller chain, which is in turnconnected in driving relationship to a second sprocket, which is in turnconnected in driving relationship to said drive wheel.

18. The improvement of claim 17 wherein each of the support members hastwo drive wheels.

19. The improvement of claim 18 wherein each of the support members hasa single motor to drive both drive wheels. 1

20. The improvement of claim 19 wherein the enclosure means isconstructed of aluminum.

21. In a self-propelled irrigating apparatus for watering an area ofground, said apparatus comprising a linear water transporting conduitsupported above the ground by a plurality of movable support membersdisposed at spaced intervals along said conduit, said conduit havingconnected thereto a plurality of water sprinkling means at spacedintervals along the conduit for sprinkling water onto the ground, and atleast one of said support members having drive means operativelyattached thereto for moving said conduit over the ground in a generallyperpendicular direction to the line of the conduit, said driving meanscomprising at least one drive wheel having a wheel shaft, a drive motorand a drive shaft operatively connected to the drive motor, andtransmission means operatively connecting the drive wheel with the wheelshaft including a sprocket on said drive shaft and a sprocket on thewheel shaft and an endless chain interconnecting said sprockets fortransmitting rotational movement from the drive shaft to the wheelshaft, the improvement comprising a rigid enclosure means pivotallyattached to said support member and constructed of an oil resistant andweather-resistant material, said enclosure means substantiallycompletely enclosing said chain and sprockets in sealed relation fromthe drive shaft and wheel shaft for sealing the interior, and alubricant in the enclosure in an amount substantially to fill the sameto a level above said chain and sprockets, said lubricant chosen fromthe group consisting of grease and oil.

22. The improvement of claim 21 wherein the apparatus has means forpivotally connecting one end of said linear conduit to a stationarywater supply line.

23. The improvement of claim 22 wherein each of said support members hassaid drive means.

24. The improvement of claim 23 wherein said motor is electricallypowered.

25. The improvement of claim 24 wherein said apparatus has alignmentmeans for automatically maintaining said linear conduit in asubstantially straight line during operation of said drive means.

26. The improvement of claim 25 wherein said transmission meanscomprises a worm. gear and said movable base is a drive wheel.

27. The improvement of claim 26 wherein said worm gear is connected indriving relationship to a sprocket, which is in turn connected indriving relationship to an endless roller chain, which is in turnconnected in driving relationship to a second sprocket, which is in turnconnected in driving relationship to said drive wheel.

28. The improvement of claim 27 wherein each of the support members hastwo drive wheels.

29. The improvement of claim 28 wherein each of the support members hasa single motor to drive both drive wheels. 1

30. The improvement of claim 29 wherein the enclosure means isconstructed of aluminum.

* k IF

1. In a self-propelled irrigating apparatus for watering an area ofground, said apparatus comprising a linear water transporting conduitsupported above the ground by a plurality of movable support membersdisposed at spaced intervals along said conduit, said conduit havingconnected thereto a plurality of water sprinkling means at spacedintervals along the conduit for sprinkling water onto the ground, and atleast one of said support members having drive means operativelyattached thereto for moving said conduit over the ground in a generallyperpendicular direction to the line of the conduit, said drive meanscomprising a movable base, a motor having an output, and transmissionmeans operatively connecting the motor output to the movable base, theimprovement comprising, for each of said transmission means, rigidenclosure means pivotally attached to said support member andconstructed of oil-resistant and weatherresistant material, saidenclosure means substantially completely enveloping said transmissionmeans but being spaced apart therefrom a sufficient distance to providea space within the enclosure for holding a reservoir of lubricant incontact with said transmission means.
 2. The improvement of claim 1wherein the apparatus has means for pivotally connecting one end of saidlinear conduit to a stationary water supply line.
 3. The improvement ofclaim 2 wherein each of said support members has said drive means. 4.The improvement of claim 3 wherein said motor is electrically powered.5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein said apparatus has alignment meansfor automatically maintaining said linear conduit in a substantiallystraight line during operation of said drive means.
 6. The improvementof claim 5 wherein said transmission means comprises a worm gear andsaid movable base is a drive wheel.
 7. The improvement of claim 6wherein said worm gear is connected in driving relationship to asprocket, which is in turn connected in driving relationship to anendless roller chain, which is in turn connected in driving relationshipto a second sproket, which is in turn connected in driving relationshipto said drive wheel.
 8. The improvement of claim 7 wherein each of thesupport members has two drive wheels.
 9. The improvement of claim 8wherein each of the support members has a single motor to drive bothdrive wheels.
 10. The improvement of claim 9 wherein the enclosure meansis constructed of aluminum.
 11. In a self-propelled irrigating apparatusfor watering an area of ground, said apparatus comprising a linear watertransporting conduit supported above the ground by a plurality ofmovable support members disposed at spaced intervals along said conduit,said conduit having connected thereto a plurality of water sprinklingmeans at spaced intervals along the conduit for sprinkling water ontothe ground, and at least one of said support members having drive meansoperatively attached thereto for moving said conduit over the ground ina generally perpendicular direction to the line of the conduit, saiddrive means comprising a movable base, a motor having an output, andtransmission means operatively connecting the motor output to themovable base, the improvement comprising, for each of said transmissionmeans, rigid enclosure means pivotally attached to said support memberand constructed of oil-resistant and weather-resistant material, saidenclosure means substantially completely enveloping said transmissionMeans but being spaced apart therefrom a sufficient distance to providea space within the enclosure for holding a reservoir of lubricant incontact with said transmission means and said space is filled with alubricant chosen from group consisting of grease and oil.
 12. Theimprovement of claim 11 wherein one end of said linear watertransporting conduit is pivotally connected to a stationary water supplyline.
 13. The improvement of claim 12 wherein each of said supportmembers has said drive means.
 14. The improvement of claim 13 whereinsaid motor is electrically powered.
 15. The improvement of claim 14wherein said apparatus has alignment means for automatically maintainingsaid linear conduit in a substantially straight line during operation ofsaid drive means.
 16. The improvement of claim 15 wherein saidtransmission means comprises a worm gear and said movable base is adrive wheel.
 17. The improvement of claim 16 wherein said worm gear isconnected in driving relationship to a sprocket, which is in turnconnected in driving relationship to an endless roller chain, which isin turn connected in driving relationship to a second sprocket, which isin turn connected in driving relationship to said drive wheel.
 18. Theimprovement of claim 17 wherein each of the support members has twodrive wheels.
 19. The improvement of claim 18 wherein each of thesupport members has a single motor to drive both drive wheels.
 20. Theimprovement of claim 19 wherein the enclosure means is constructed ofaluminum.
 21. In a self-propelled irrigating apparatus for watering anarea of ground, said apparatus comprising a linear water transportingconduit supported above the ground by a plurality of movable supportmembers disposed at spaced intervals along said conduit, said conduithaving connected thereto a plurality of water sprinkling means at spacedintervals along the conduit for sprinkling water onto the ground, and atleast one of said support members having drive means operativelyattached thereto for moving said conduit over the ground in a generallyperpendicular direction to the line of the conduit, said driving meanscomprising at least one drive wheel having a wheel shaft, a drive motorand a drive shaft operatively connected to the drive motor, andtransmission means operatively connecting the drive wheel with the wheelshaft including a sprocket on said drive shaft and a sprocket on thewheel shaft and an endless chain interconnecting said sprockets fortransmitting rotational movement from the drive shaft to the wheelshaft, the improvement comprising a rigid enclosure means pivotallyattached to said support member and constructed of an oil-resistant andweather-resistant material, said enclosure means substantiallycompletely enclosing said chain and sprockets in sealed relation fromthe drive shaft and wheel shaft for sealing the interior, and alubricant in the enclosure in an amount substantially to fill the sameto a level above said chain and sprockets, said lubricant chosen fromthe group consisting of grease and oil.
 22. The improvement of claim 21wherein the apparatus has means for pivotally connecting one end of saidlinear conduit to a stationary water supply line.
 23. The improvement ofclaim 22 wherein each of said support members has said drive means. 24.The improvement of claim 23 wherein said motor is electrically powered.25. The improvement of claim 24 wherein said apparatus has alignmentmeans for automatically maintaining said linear conduit in asubstantially straight line during operation of said drive means. 26.The improvement of claim 25 wherein said transmission means comprises aworm gear and said movable base is a drive wheel.
 27. The improvement ofclaim 26 wherein said worm gear is connected in driving relationship toa sprocket, which is in turn connected in driving relationship to anendless roller chain, which is in turn connected in driving relationshipto a second sprocket, which is in tuRn connected in driving relationshipto said drive wheel.
 28. The improvement of claim 27 wherein each of thesupport members has two drive wheels.
 29. The improvement of claim 28wherein each of the support members has a single motor to drive bothdrive wheels.
 30. The improvement of claim 29 wherein the enclosuremeans is constructed of aluminum.